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Presidential Election: Why were Christians let down once again?
Undoubtedly, Christians are known for their compassion and service for populace irrespective of caste and creed. Their services in the educational and medical sectors are conclusive evidence for that. When it comes to the matter of peace-making you see them silently bearing insult, lies and false propaganda, even loss of property. They consider it to be a blessed state when they are persecuted or when their dear ones are beaten up or killed before their very eyes – all for the sake of their faith. They do not do this because they are weak. Instead, they want to follow their Master who endured such insults that were hurled upon Him.
Christians love their country. They pray for their country and its leaders without fail. They contribute from their means and spend extra hours in prayer for peace. They work for the protection and sustenance of those affected by a disturbance or natural calamity. They do not take national resources for granted; rather, they are faithful in paying bills and taxes. They do not indulge in violence, destroying public property when their rights are denied or when they are discriminated on account of their faith. They do not look down on the underprivileged and downtrodden by abandoning them to their ‘fate’ but compassionately deal with them to uplift and develop them. They love and pray for their persecutors who remain hostile without valid reasons.
Christians produced the best teachers, theologians, social workers, doctors, nurses, police officers, preachers and pastors who are involved in nation building. Indeed, the church played a major role in developing and leading this community so far. The followers usually look unto their spiritual leaders for guidance. How the church that produced the above mentioned outstanding personalities failed produce outstanding bureaucrats and politicians? The ethically and spiritually strong personalities who look down upon politics are letting the corrupt and weak persons to rise to the State Assemblies and to Parliament. After all, politics deals with governance of the country. Of course, we don’t hate politics per se; we see it big time inside the church!
None of these good things mentioned was sufficient for political parties or the media to find a deserving person from the Christian community for the highest office in India. Did they collectively marginalize the Christian community in Presidential election?
Christians are aware that the President of India is not for a particular community. The President of the largest democracy in the world is for the whole country. Then why did the Christians of India ask for a President from their fold? Probably, it was just for a feeling of inclusion – a token of recognition that they too are a part of India. I will not say the political parties and the media together conspired against Christians.
The question here is, if the church was able to produce outstanding professionals and workers, how did we fail to produce outstanding politicians and bureaucrats? Are we the real culprits?
